X-Box X-Plainers I: Legends

[SaveFarris_PSN]

In the run up to launch, I figured it might be helpful to explain some terms and concepts to our new friends from Microsoft-land. Up first: Legends. Who are they? What are they? And why isn't that guy here?

There are 3 general card types in the game (and more sub-types but we're trying to keep it nice and simple to start with)

• Live Series cards
  --this is a card of someone who is or has been on a MLB roster at some point during the 2021 season.
  -- Each team can consist of up to 40 players on their roster. (Prospects who have not appeared in a regular season game may be on a team's real-life roster but not yet in the game's roster. This is why some teams may have less than 40 at a time.)
  -- Players who were on a 40-man roster but are there no longer will still have a Live Series card, but will be designated as Free Agents (even if they aren't in real life. This could be someone demoted to the minors or someone on the 60-day DL.)

• Flashback cards
  -- This is a special type of card (Rookie, All-Star, Player of the Month, etc) for someone who also has a Live Series card.

• Legend cards
  -- This is a card for a retired player that has not been on an MLB roster during the 2021 season. (Think Babe Ruth, Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey [either one].

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• How many Legends are in the game?
  -- As of MLB The Show 20, there were 162.

• Have any new Legends been announced for MLB The Show 21?
  -- Here is the list thus far:
  Alfonso Soriano (FP #1)
  Grady Sizemore (FP #2)
  Roberto Clemente (Gameplay Trailer)
  Kirby Puckett (FP #3)
  Hank Aaron (Legends Trailer)
  Fernando Valenzuela (Legends Trailer)
  Prince Fielder (Legends Trailer)
  Pedro Martinez (Legends Trailer)

• How many new Legends do they typically add every year?
  -- Around 30 or so.

• Who are the existing Legends?
  --Ready? Here goes:

Adam Dunn
AJ Burnett
Al Kaline
Al Leiter
Alan Trammell
Andre Dawson
Andruw Jones
Babe Ruth
Barry Larkin
Benito Santiago
Bert Blyleven
Bill Mazeroski
Billy Wagner
Billy Williams
Bob Feller
Bob Gibson
Bret Boone
Bret Saberhagen
Brian Roberts
Brooks Robinson
Bruce Sutter
Cal Ripken Jr
Catfish Hunter
Chipper Jones
Christy Mathewson
Cliff Floyd
Cliff Lee
Craig Biggio
Cy Young
Dale Murphy
Dan Plesac
Dante Bichette
Dave Kingman
Dave Parker
David Ortiz
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Martinez
Don Mattingly
Don Sutton
Duke Snider
Dwight Evans
Eddie Mathews
Eddie Murray
Edgar Martinez
Enos Slaughter
Eric Davis
Eric Gagne
Ernie Banks
Fergie Jenkins
Frank Thomas
Fred McGriff
Garret Anderson
Gary Carter
Gary Sheffield
George Brett
George Foster
Goose Gossage
Greg Maddux
Hal Newhouser
Harmon Killebrew
Honus Wagner
Jack Morris
Jackie Robinson
Jason Giambi
Jason Isringhausen
Jason Kendall
Jay Buhner
Jeff Bagwell
Jim Edmonds
Jim Palmer
Jim Thome
Jimmie Foxx
Jimmy Rollins
Joe Carter
Joe Morgan
Joe Torre
John Franco
John Olerud
John Smoltz
Johnny Bench
Johnny Damon
Jorge Posada
Juan Marichal
Juan Pierre
Keith Foulke
Keith Hernandez
Ken Griffey Jr
Ken Griffey Sr
Kenny Lofton
Kerry Wood
Larry Doby
Larry Walker
Lee Smith
Lefty Grove
Lou Brock
Lou Gehrig
Luis Aparicio
Luis Gonzalez
Mariano Rivera
Mark Buehrle
Mark Prior
Matt Williams
Michael Young
Mickey Mantle
Mike Piazza
Mike Schmidt
Mike Scott
Minnie Minoso
Monte Irvin
Nolan Ryan
Omar Vizquel
Orel Hershiser
Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Hernandez
Ozzie Smith
Paul Konerko
Paul Molitor
Pee Wee Reese
Pudge Rodriguez
Ralph Kiner
Reggie Jackson
Richie Ashburn
Rickey Henderson
Rob Dibble
Robb Nen
Roberto Alomar
Robin Roberts
Robin Yount
Rod Carew
Rogers Hornsby
Rollie Fingers
Ron Guidry
Roy Oswalt
Ryan Klesko
Ryne Sandberg
Shane Victorino
Stan Musial
Steve Bedrosian
Steve Finley
Ted Williams
Tim Salmon
Tino Martinez
Todd Helton
Tom Glavine
Tom Henke
Tom Seaver
Tony Gwynn
Tony Perez
Torii Hunter
Trevor Hoffman
Troy Percival
Ty Cobb
Vida Blue
Vladimir Guerrero
Wade Boggs
Walter Johnson
Warren Spahn
Whitey Ford
Willie Mays
Willie McCovey
Willie Stargell
Will Clark

• Shane Victorino? Brian Roberts? Those aren't Legends!
  -- Remember, the definition of a Legend is someone who is no longer actively playing MLB. They may not be Hall of Famers, but they qualify under MLB The Show's definition.

• Have any other Legends been in the game?
  -- There have been a few in earlier years. A non-comprehensive list:
  Albert Belle
  Buddy Bell
  Yogi Berra
  Darrin Erstad
  Lenny Dykstra
  Aubrey Huff
  Rick Ankiel
  Shawn Green
  Steve Garvey
  Tommy John
  Travis Hafner
  Carlton Fisk
  Dave Stieb
  Dave Winfield
  Doc Ellis
  Doug Drabek
  Eric Karros
  Gaylord Perry
  Harold Baines
  Jack McDowell
  Jim Rice
  Mario Mendoza
  Phil Neikro
  Luis Tiant

• Why aren't those players in the game?
  -- SDS doesn't (and/or can't) give those answers so we can only speculate. Some were likely dropped stemming from legal troubles (Looking at you, Big Al). Some probably let their rights lapse. And some probably weren't used all that much so SDS figured the expense wasn't worth it.

• Why isn't [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER HERE] in the game?
  -- Because your favorite player (and/or that player's representative) hasn't sold SDS their likeness rights yet. There's a common misperception that SDS obtains the rights through Cooperstown, but that is incorrect. Legend rights are negotiated individually.

Maybe it's because they're saving him for a future year. (There's been RAMPANT speculation that they've been saving Hank Aaron for this year's "big reveal" because who wouldn't want the Home Run King to be the cross-platform debut star.) Or maybe the star is asking for so much money.

• Hey, wasn't there an EA game long ago that had all sorts of players like Satchell Page and Roy Campanella? And NBA Jams had Bill Clinton! Why can't SDS just put in any players they want?
  -- There was a Supreme Court case (O'Bannon v. NCAA) in the interim. While that case dealt with college athletes, the upshot was that player's likeness could not be used in a game without their express written consent.

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And that's it for now. If you have any other questions, type 'em up and I'll answer them as best I can.

Also, if you think there are any other topics that should be covered in this manner for our new X-Box buddies you think can help get them up to speed, go ahead and nominate them.

[hoboadam_PSN]

Well done.

[the_dragon1912_PSN]

@savefarris_psn said in X-Box X-Plainers I: Legends:

Shane Victorino? Brian Roberts? Those aren't Legends!
-- Remember, the definition of a Legend is someone who is no longer actively playing MLB. They may not be Hall of Famers, but they qualify under MLB The Show's definition.

Want to emphasize this point. You hear these comments every year

[SaveFarris_PSN]

Additional Question:

• What about recent retirees (Jose Reyes, Curtis Granderson, Dustin Pedroia, David Wright)
  -- Anything's possible, but history tells us that SDS doesn't typically add a player until they've been retired at least 4 years. Players that retired just last year probably won't be back for a while. [I.E. Get your licks in with Albert Pujols this year before it's too late.]

[Greenbuk75_MLBTS]

I'm bumping this bc I'm sick or seeing reddit and here with same threads

[Ericulous1_PSN]

This is Everything. Hahaha..